The weather is getting warmer, the days are becoming longer, and with it the need to sit in sunshine and enjoy a refreshing drink feels more apparent. Or perhaps this is just me, currently being in Italy, and seeing people enjoying their “aperitivo”. Well, this one was a complete surprise, dare I say a rather delicious one, which I ordered in a coffee shop in New York. I had absolutely no clue what a Coffee Ginger Elixir was but it was darn delicious and super refreshing so here it is re-created for the blog!
What You Will Find in This Post
- What is an elixir?
- Why this Coffee Ginger Elixir is good for us
- Easy Swaps and Questions
- How to adjust this recipe to your individual dietary requirements
- Other delicious drinks on the blog
What Is An Elixir?
You hear this word thrown around quite often in the “health” world and I am going to be honest with you, I had absolutely no idea what it meant. And if you are asking: “Why did you name the drink after it?” It is because this was the name in the shop where I ordered it LOL. So, in a food context, appears to be a drink that has some sort of concentration and/or is a herbal or nutrient rich beverage. I can contain (in no particular order): Herbal extractions or infusions (for example, ashwagandha or turmeric), superfoods (albeit I hate that term, such as maca or cacao), adoptogens, and are naturally sweetened. The base is usually either tea or plant-based milk. So, if you look at the ingredient list for this Coffee Ginger Elixir, we are definitely using “elixir” more in a spiritual context as in a literal one.
Why Is This Coffee Ginger Elixir Good For Us?
Just to pre-empt this segment: You can absolutely enjoy this drink with a decaffeinated shot of espresso. I, personally, do not drink my coffee and choose decaffeinated over caffeinated 9 times out of 10. If you are wondering whether, in principal, coffee is good or bad for you, I have created an entire blog post around this topic here. This recipe contains ginger, which has long been known potent medicinal properties. The key ingredient for this appears to “gingerol”, a bioactive compound, that has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It may aid in reducing oxidative stress. In addition, ginger has been shown to relieve feelings of nausea, potentially even in people that suffer from nausea related to chemotherapy. There is also some evidence that suggests that ginger supports your digestive tract and lowers blood sugar levels.
Easy Swaps and Questions
Can I swap decaffeinated coffee for caffeinated one (or vice versa)? Absolutely. You can either use decaffeinated coffee or “real” coffee in this recipe. The choice is completely yours!
Do I need to have a juicer in order to do the recipe? No, you do not need a juicer. You could also add a bit of ginger and the coffee to a blender, blend everything through and then strain the ginger out.
What if I do not have maple syrup at hand? I have to admit maple syrup is my preferred choice in drinks like this but if you do not have it at hand some agave will likely work just as well. You may even go with honey but it might alter the taste a bit.
How to adjust this recipe to your individual dietary requirements
This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and nut-free. It can therefore be enjoyed by everyone!
Other Delicious Drink Recipes on the Blog
There are so many delicious drink-related recipes on the blog! Whether you want refreshing, or something for your morning beverage, be sure to check out the following:
- Hazelnut Coffee Creamer – an absolute favorite on the blog!
- Non-alcoholic Garden Sour Cocktail
- Watermelon Cucumber Slushie
- Strawberry Basil Smash Drink
- Iced Matcha Latte
And that is it for this week. I hope you enjoy this drink as much as I did over here. As always, do let me know what you think by either rating the recipe and/or leaving a comment below. Your ratings make all the difference in the world to other people finding and enjoying the recipes!
Coffee Ginger Elixir
1
servings5
minutesThis Coffee Ginger Elixir is delicious, refreshing, and perfect for a summer afternoon. Can be enjoyed with either decaf or “real” coffee.
Ingredients
1 shot (decaf) espresso
2 tsp ginger juice – see notes*
1 tsp maple syrup
Sparkling water
How to
- Add the (decaf) espresso shot, ginger juice, maple syrup and ice to a glass. Stir and fill up with sparkling water. Enjoy immediately!
Notes
- You can either juice the ginger, or alternatively you could add a bit of ginger and the coffee to a blender, blend everything through and then strain the ginger out.
